Nicoletta Lanese

Nicoletta Lanese

Channel Editor, Health

Nicoletta Lanese is the health channel editor at Live Science and was previously a news editor and staff writer at the site. She holds a graduate certificate in science communication from UC Santa Cruz and degrees in neuroscience and dance from the University of Florida. Her work has appeared in The Scientist, Science News, the Mercury News, Mongabay and Stanford Medicine Magazine, among other outlets. Based in NYC, she also remains heavily involved in dance and performs in local choreographers' work.

Articles by: Nicoletta Lanese

a submersible vehicle shown in the middle of the gulf of california

Newfound viruses named for Norse gods could have fueled the rise of complex life

By Nicoletta Lanese published

These viruses were found in hot springs and the deep sea.

huge plumes from the hunga volcanic eruption as seen from above

Record-breaking Tonga volcano generated the fastest atmospheric waves ever seen

By Nicoletta Lanese published

The waves exceeded speeds of 700 mph.

the newly-named sponge crab Lamarckdromia beagle photographed from the front; the crab is coated in fluffy orange sponge

Can you spot the crab in this photo? (Hint: It's under the fuzz.)

By Nicoletta Lanese last updated

The species is named after the HMS Beagle.

monkeypox viral particles

Monkeypox may present with unusual symptoms, CDC warns

By Nicoletta Lanese last updated

The CDC issued new guidance for health care providers.

Demonstrators gather in front of the U.S. Supreme Court as the justices hear arguments in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health, a case about a Mississippi law that bans most abortions after 15 weeks, on December 01, 2021 in Washington, DC.

Roe v. Wade overturned by Supreme Court

By Nicoletta Lanese published

Thirteen states have "trigger laws" that will ban abortion almost immediately.

illustration of a jurassic cephalopod called Vampyronassa rhodanica

8-armed Jurassic 'vampire' used supersuckers to trap prey, amazing 3D images reveal

By Nicoletta Lanese published

This cephalopod is related to modern vampire squid.

illustration of poliovirus particles

Poliovirus detected in London sewage, UK officials warn

By Nicoletta Lanese published

On rare occasions, the detected strain has caused paralysis.

seismic data overlain over map of afghanistan showing epicenter and shock waves of recent earthquake

Magnitude 5.9 earthquake hits Afghanistan, killing at least 1,000

By Nicoletta Lanese published

The quake occurred near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.

Researchers Ian Bartoszek (left), Ian Easterling, and intern Kyle Findley (right) transport a record - breaking female Burmese Python — weighing 215 pounds and measuring 17.7 feet in length — to their lab in Naples, Florida, to be laid out and photographed.

Largest python ever found in Florida is 18 feet long and weighs a whopping 200 pounds

By Nicoletta Lanese published

The python was as wide as a volleyball, at its widest point.

This 3D illustration shows a cross-section of kidneys inside a human body.

3 kids receive kidney transplants without need for immune-suppressing drugs

By Nicoletta Lanese published

Three children with a rare genetic disease received kidney transplants without the need for any immune-suppressing drugs.

illustration of an X chromosome and Y chromosome

One in 500 men may carry an extra sex chromosome (most without knowing it)

By Nicoletta Lanese published

Extra sex chromosomes may raise the risk of certain health conditions.

Three mouse embryos. The far left embryo is healthy and was not exposed to valproic acid; the right two embryos were exposed to valproic acid. The center embryo has microcephaly (meaning a small head) and the far right embryo has exencephaly (meaning the portion of the neural tube closest to its head is open).

Mini-brains show how common drug freezes cell division in the womb, causing birth defects

By Nicoletta Lanese published

The drug can cause birth defects when taken in pregnancy.

illustration of an RNA virus spilling its contents into a cell to infect it; there's a cut-away through the virus so you can see the RNA molecule inside

Scientists discover viruses that secretly rule the world's oceans

By Nicoletta Lanese published

RNA viruses may influence the flow of carbon through the ocean.

a map of the globe with countries with monkeypox cases marked

More than 1,000 cases of monkeypox detected in 29 countries

By Nicoletta Lanese last updated

The CDC raised the alert level for the ongoing monkeypox outbreak as the nation's case count hit 30 and the global case count rose above 1,000.

t cells converging on a cancer cell

Experimental rectal cancer drug caused all patients' tumors to disappear in small trial

By Nicoletta Lanese published

More research is needed to know if the patients' cancer could return.

bottle of melatonin tablets with pills on a table

Melatonin poisonings on the rise in US kids

By Nicoletta Lanese published

About 4,000 children were hospitalized after ingesting huge amounts of melatonin.

The newly described D. xiezhi had a protective head shield and a shorter neck than its giraffoid cousins.

Short-necked giraffe relative discovered in China. It used its helmet head to bash rivals.

By Nicoletta Lanese published

Scientists uncovered 16.9 million-year-old fossils of the beast.

hand holding an ultrasound scan of twins in a womb; in the background, two infants can be seen sitting

Texas woman gives birth to rare set of twins conceived one week apart. How is this possible?

By Nicoletta Lanese published

This phenomenon is called "superfetation."

photo of plastic containers of strawberries in grocery store refrigerator

Contaminated strawberries linked to hepatitis outbreak, FDA says

By Nicoletta Lanese published

Health agencies in the U.S. and Canada are investigating the outbreak.

photo of baby in a crib sleeping on her back

No, scientists didn't discover the cause of SIDS. Here's what they did find.

By Nicoletta Lanese published

The results of the study were initially overstated on social media.

A video clip shows an adult Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin rubbing against a bush-like coral on the seafloor.

Red Sea dolphins slather their skin in coral mucus, because nature is wonderfully gross

By Nicoletta Lanese published

Young dolphins seem to learn this skin care routine from their elders.

Pox viruses (shown here in this illustration) like monkeypox are oval-shaped with double-strand DNA.

Rare monkeypox infections detected in several European countries

By Nicoletta Lanese last updated

It's unknown whether the monkeypox cases in different countries are linked.

photo of little penguins marching onto phillip island from the water

5,000 of the world's smallest penguins waddle onto Australian beach in record-breaking parade

By Nicoletta Lanese published

A nightly penguin parade takes place on Phillip Island.

The GOES-17 satellite captured images of an umbrella cloud generated by the underwater eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano on Jan. 15, 2022. Crescent-shaped bow shock waves and numerous lighting strikes are also visible.

Record-shattering Tonga volcanic eruption sent atmospheric waves zipping around the Earth

By Nicoletta Lanese published

The eruption triggered huge atmospheric waves called Lamb waves.

Artist rendition of coronavirus under a microscope. there are 5 spherical cells, each with trumpet-shaped spikes all over.

What are viruses?

By Aparna Vidyasagar published

Reference Viruses are microscopic parasites that lack the capacity to thrive and reproduce outside of a host body.

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